Robinson relishes return to old stomping grounds

Robinson grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from Crenshaw High, about 30 miles north of Anaheim. He made his Major League debut on Aug. 5 with the Mariners last year at Angel Stadium and robbed Torii Hunter of a home run with a spectacular catch in left field and got his first hit against All-Star Jered Weaver.

Robinson spent much of this season back in Triple-A Tacoma, but he was recalled by the Mariners three weeks ago and made his first return to Angel Stadium this weekend. He didn't play Friday, but was 2-for-3 with two runs, an RBI and his first stolen base in Saturday's 7-4 win.

"I'm just trying to go out there and get in scoring position as much as possible," said Robinson, who was back in the lineup again for Sunday's series finale.

As for his weekend in the L.A. area?

"It's always good to come back home," Robinson said. "I've seen a couple Little League friends of mine. They're doing good. And just seeing them reminded me of memories of how important the game was to me as a youngster. It just made it fun. It made it even sweeter [Saturday night].

"You have to remember it's just a game," he said. "I started when I was 3 and I'm still playing now at 24."

Headaches return for Gutierrez, delaying rehab

ANAHEIM -- Mariners center fielder Franklin Gutierrez was scheduled to begin a Minor League rehab stint on Sunday with the Class A Everett AquaSox, but the return of headaches canceled that plan, according to manager Eric Wedge.

Gutierrez, 29, has been out six weeks now since incurring a concussion when he was hit in the head with a pickoff throw. He'd been working out the past few days with Everett after Triple-A Tacoma went on the road and the club felt he was ready to begin playing games until the headaches returned.

"Now we've got to put the brakes on again, so that's disappointing," Wedge said. "He's going to see the specialist again tomorrow. Maybe they have to change the medication. We'll see."

Gutierrez has played just 12 games this season after originally being sidelined by a partially torn pectoral muscle, then landing back on the disabled list with the concussion. He hit .267 in 45 at-bats and was looking more like the 2010 Gold Glove center fielder when he got hurt again.

Wedge said he hopes Gutierrez can play Winter Ball this offseason but hasn't given up on this season.

"Right now I just want to focus on hopefully getting him back for some period of time this year," Wedge said. "He just makes such an impact on our club. We've had a couple games this road trip where if we have a different outfield, we probably win.

"And the impact he makes in our lineup as a right-handed bat with some experience that you can really hit anywhere, I value that. The fact he can hit anywhere in the lineup, has a little pop, a pretty good hitter. In just a short period of time, you saw the impact he had on our club."

Olivo contributing despite reduced role

ANAHEIM -- Miguel Olivo's playing time has diminished considerably in recent weeks as rookie Jesus Montero and hot-hitting John Jaso have gotten the majority of playing time at catcher, but the veteran has been contributing when he's gotten the opportunity.

Olivo has played just eight of the past 22 games, a far cry from his everyday role last year and even the first month of this season before he was sidelined by a strained groin muscle. But after struggling at the plate for much of this season, he's hit .310 (9-for-29) over his past seven starts in a 16-day span.

Olivo, 34, is in the final two months of his contract with Seattle, assuming the Mariners don't exercise their club option to bring him back for 2013. He's hitting .212 this season with a .226 on-base percentage, well below his career .241 and .275 averages, and manager Eric Wedge has gone more to the younger Montero and Jaso.

So Olivo plays when he's asked and waits to see what the future holds.

"I'm feeling better," he said after a 2-for-4 night on Saturday. "The last couple games I've played, I'm hitting the ball better. Everybody knows I can hit, I'm just in a bad situation right now. But I'll just finish strong and see what happens next year."

Saturday's game could have been even better, but Angels rookie sensation Mike Trout robbed him of a two-run home run with a leaping catch above the wall in center field in his last at-bat.

"I hit it very well, but too high," Olivo said. "But still, it was gone, but he jumped like Spiderman. I'm not the only one. ... It's unbelievable. He jumped high, too. I saw the replay and he jumped like 4 feet up. But it's OK. We won the game, I hit the ball well, [Hisashi] Iwakuma pitched a good game. It's day by day. We'll see what happens tomorrow."

Worth noting

• Reliever Charlie Furbush pitched a perfect inning of relief Saturday for Triple-A Tacoma as he continues his rehab from a strained left biceps. Manager Eric Wedge said he'll remain with the Rainiers and pitch a few more innings this coming week before a decision is made on his return.

• Jesus Montero is hitting .361 against left-handed pitching, the sixth-highest average in the AL. If he maintains that number for the full season, it would tie for fourth among MLB rookies since 1992.